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The story today was that the pilot was stowing the gun away about 10 minutes prior to landing.

Obviously, the pilot fumbled something in the process.

But I would question why he/she should even have to go through the process. Why not just carry the gun like any other LEO would do? Or like a CHL for that matter?

You put the gun on when you get dressed and get going and take it off when you're ready to hit the sack for the day.

The only exception that would be needed would be on international flights to repressive and/or feeble-minded countries that would not allow for the pilot to leave the plane with the gun. So in those cases, the plane itself would be treated as US Territory (I think it is anyway, right?) and the gun would be locked up inside. This could easily be done AFTER the plane landed, (and before the cockpit doors are opened) when the pilot presumably had a lot less on his or her mind.

What ever happened to "common sense"?

If I was running things, (meaning the FAA) at the time I would have issued revolvers to every flight deck officer on US flag carriers on Sep. 12, 2001. If any of them didn't feel comfortable with it after a brief orientation and explanation, I would make sure that they understood that they were perfectly free to get themselves another job.

As I recall, the FAA did a 2 or 3 day stand down after the attacks. This would have allowed for plenty of time to get this done, including a brief stint of range time.

If enough guns weren't available on such short notice, they could have been portioned out while S&W, Ruger, etc. built what was needed.

What ever happened to common sense?

Why is it that almost 7 years later only around 10% of our flight deck officers are armed?

Great. Just what we need. And by "we" I don't mean gun rights advoccates, I mean the flying public. What was this fool doing even touching the gun while the plane was in flight with no threat present?

I would yank this person's piliot's license ASAP. In my mind, he/she doesn't have the judgement to fly a plane full of organic-based fertilizer, let alone 200 or so passengers.

If my recollection is correct, they issue these people some variety of DAO SIG in 357 SIG caliber, right? How do you have an AD with one of those?

I'd sure like to hear the cockpit audio tape for this one.